Dingle-dangle scarecrow

Summary: A children's song about a scarecrow who loves to frolic in the night, when everyone else is sleeping
CD-Rom included.

Bear and duck

First edition
Summary: Bear doesn't want to be a bear anymore so he tries out what it's like to be a duck. With a few lessons from Duck, Bear realizes he makes a much better bear after all

How the sun got to Coco's house

Summary: While Coco slept far away, the sun crept up slowly behind a hill, leaping whole countries, chasing the night. (Book cover)

Enemy pie

Hoping that the enemy pie which his father makes will help him get rid of his enemy, a little boy finds that instead it helps him make a new friend. Suggested level: junior, primary

Peace is an offering

Summary: Peace can be found almost anywhere if you're looking for it. With rhythmic, rhyming text and a diverse cast of neighbourhood children, this lyrical picture book captures the everyday ways people make the world better for each other, from giving a gift just because to comforting a friend who's feeling blue. With its focus on warmth and comfort, this book will help readers look for the light moments during tough times and remind them of the calm and happiness they find in their own community every day. (Publisher)

Welcome home, bear : a book of animal habitats

 Other Title: Book of animal habitats
First edition
Summary: Tired of his own home, a bear goes exploring, visiting animals around the world in their various habitats

Stripes! No, Spots!

Some pages folded
Summary: When Tiger and Leopard disagree, the jungle turns to mayhem. How can peace be restored? (Back cover)

Space Boy and his sister [crossed out] dog

Other Title: Space Boy and his dog
First edition
Summary: Niko may live on boring old Earth with his family, but he's always finding a new adventure. Using the spaceship that he built from a box in his backyard and a little imagination, he flies off into space with his robot, Radar, and his dog, Tag. The only one NOT invited is his sister Posh who keeps trying to insert herself into Niko's story

Fancy Nancy : Saturday night sleepover

Summary: Nancy and JoJo are excited about going to a sleepover. It's JoJo's first one ever and she's nervous about sleeping away from home, but that's fine, because big sister extraordinaire Nancy is there to put her mind at ease! Nancy is an expert at sleepovers. Although it turns out it's Nancy who might not be as prepared as she though

Eye to eye

Summary: Imagine you could soar high in the sky with an eagle or dive into the deep with a majestic blue whale. Come eye to eye with some of nature's most impressive creatures as Graeme Base takes you on a richly illustrated journey of imagination and possibility

Rufus the writer

First edition
Summary: Rather than a lemonade stand, Rufus sets up a story stand one summer and makes a series of trades with his friends--a story for a shell, for a kitten, for a surprise, and one more as a special birthday gift for his sister

The giant jam sandwich

Summary: Four million wasps invade Itching Down, so the villagers make a giant jam sandwich to trap them

The quiet pirate

Summary: Barnaby might be quieter than the other pirates, but is he smarter?  Barnaby is the cabin boy for a crew of disreputable and noisy pirates, but he shows us that sometimes it is better to watch and listen and think than it is to shout and stomp and swagger
New Zealand author

Uncle Vic's farm

Summary: Leyla doesn't think staying at the farm will be as much fun as their usual summer holiday by the sea, but she likes the black and white dog waiting on the steps and all the cicadas singing in the summer heat. Then Dad shows her the special, secret place hidden deep in the bush up the back of the farm

Chester

1st pbk. ed
Red overwriting by Chester the cat
Summary: Chester the cat gets hold of a red marker and completely alters the 'real' book Melanie Watt is trying to write about a family of mice

The slightly annoying elephant

On cover: David Walliams presents
Summary: What's big, blue, bossy, and turns up uninvited? A slightly annoying elephant, of course! (From publisher)

Silly Billy

Billy worries about hats and shoes. He worries about clouds and rain and giant birds. Most of all, he worries about staying at other people's houses. His mum and dad try to help, but still Billy worries... until a visit to his grandma's shows him how to overcome his fears with the aid of his imagination - and some tiny worry dolls.

Willy's stories

Summary: A magical celebration of stories and imagination. Once a week, Willy walks through an ordinary looking set of doors and straight into an adventure. Where will those doors take him today - to a mysterious desert island or down a deep, dark rabbit hole? (Book jacket flap)

What if...?

Picture Corgi edition
Summary: Joe is nervous about his first big party, and as Mum walks him along the darkening street to his friend's house, his imagination starts to run wild. They search for the right place, looking through the windows, wondering "What if...?" while making surprising discoveries along the way

Me and You

Summary: An urban retelling of the Goldilocks and the Three Bears story, told from the baby bear's perspective
Goldilocks and the three bears
Summary: Three bears decide to go out for a walk in the park while their porridge cools. Meanwhile a little girl has lost her mum and lost her way and is walking the streets alone, until she happens upon a house. The bears arrive home and discover several things are amiss. What will they find upstairs?

The Roadman Boogie

New Zealand author/illustrator
Summary: 'I'm cold and bored and soggy', sneezed the Roadman with a sigh. 'All I do is Stop-Go-Stop at traffic sloshing by'. But when a loaded car pulled up, with music playing loud, the Roadman couldn't help himself and danced for all the crowd! (Back cover)

Swimmy

Summary: Deep in the sea there lives a school of little fish. Their watery world is full of wonders, but there is also danger, and the little fish are afraid to come out of hiding. until Swimmy comes along. Swimmy shows his friends that, with ingenuity and team work, they can overcome any danger

Cinderella's Sister and the Big Bad Wolf

Summary: Think you know the story of Cinderella? Think again. This laugh-out-loud picture book turns the traditional tale totally upside down! For example, did you know that there were three ugly sisters? And how about this - Cinderella wasn't actually very nice? And, far from being a mean-mouthed little madam, the youngest sister, Gertie, was the kindest person you could ever hope to meet? (Publisher)

Six little chicks

Red Fox edition
Summary: Busy Hen has five little chicks to look after while making sure number six - still an egg- stays warm. The last thing she needs is hairy, scary Fox sniffing about. She is frantic when the other birds warn her that her chicks are in danger, but her five little chicks are a lot braver than she realises

Little Beauty

A very special gorilla is taught a very special skill: sign language. He appears to have everything he needs, but one day he signs that he is sad and needs a friend. His keepers bring him a tiny cat called Beauty and the two of them become inseparable.

Henry's map

New Zealand author
Summary: Henry is a very particular sort of pig, who believes there's 'a place for everything and everything in its place'. But when he looks out the window, he's troubled. The farm is a mess! So he decides to draw a map to show everyone exactly where they belong. He takes a journey through the farm with his friends as he draws the map: sheep in the woolshed; chickens in the coop; horse in the stable. (Publisher)

The fierce little woman and the wicked pirate

New Zealand author; New Zealand illustrator
Previously published: Auckland : Shortland Educational, 1984
Summary: The fierce little woman lives in a house at the end of a jetty and knits socks to sell to sailors. One stormy day a wicked pirate arrives on the jetty and starts tap-tapping on her window. She's not intimidated by the pirate's threats, but when he admits his fear, she relents and lets him into her house. Suggested level: junior

Horace the Baker's Horse

Summary: Horace is a very big horse with an even bigger heart. Every day he pulls the baker's cart and helps Old William, Big Bill and Young Billy take bread, buns and other doughy delights to all the people in the town. But when a terrible flu makes everyone sick, who is going to deliver the bread to hungry families?  Based on a true story told to the author by her grandmother, Horace the Baker's Horse captures a time when horses were part of everyday life. Set in 1919 during the Spanish influenza epidemic, it tells the story of how, when the baker and his family are struck down by illness, Horace sets off on his well-trodden round to deliver bread to the townsfolk all by himself

I am Doodle Cat

Cover title
New Zealand illustrator
Summary: I am Doddle Cat, one very proud drawing. I'm red like a really ripe tomato, see? Sometimes I find it hard to choose between dancing and clawing the rug so I just have to do both at the same time. I make long lists of the things I love because it's important to remember what makes you happy. I'll help you spot the magic in silliness and the greatness in pretty much everything. Also, my best friend is a pangolin. Let's be pals. (Back cover)

Small and Big

Summary: Small and Big are the best of friends but they have very different personalities. Big is loud and confident and certain that it's the big things in life that matter, while the more reserved Small finds beauty in the details. When Small finds himself hopelessly lost in the city, Small and Big both discover what really matters: each other

City Green

Summary: Marcy and Miss Rosa start a campaign to clean up an empty lot and turn it into a community garden

The invisible boy

Summary: Meet Brian, the invisible boy. Nobody ever seems to notice him or think to include him in their group, game, or birthday party - until, that is, a new kid comes to class. When Justin, the new boy, arrives, Brian is the first to make him feel welcome. And when Brian and Justin team up to work on a class project together, Brian finds a way to shine

Sad, the dog

First U.S. edition
Summary: Mr and Mrs Cripps feed their dog, wash him, and even clean inside his ears. But they don't give him a name. So the dog names himself Sad. What will it take to make Sad, the dog, happy

Wobbling Whiskers

Summary: Mice are not scared,' said Big Mouse. 'Mice are big and brave like me.' And Big Mouse puffed himself up so much, he nearly popped out of his skin. But when Big Mouse peeped out of the hole, he saw a fat, furry tail and claws on paws... (Back cover)
Audio Disc included.

Stuck

Delightful chaos ensues when a young boy gets his kite stuck in a tree in this laugh-out-loud new picture book from award-winning, internationally best-selling author-illustrator Oliver Jeffers!

Floyd gets his kite stuck up a tree. He throws up his shoe to shift it, but that gets stuck too. So he throws up his other shoe and that gets stuck, along with… a ladder, a pot of paint, the kitchen sink, an orang-utan and a whale, amongst other things!

Will Floyd ever get his kite back?

A hilarious book with a wonderful surprise ending.

Hansel and Gretel

This is a retelling of this famous, dark fairytale from award-winning author-illustrator Anthony Browne. Hansel and Gretel is perhaps the darkest and greatest of the fairytales from the Brothers Grimm. This extraordinary book brings the classic childhood tale to a new generation courtesy of one of the world's greatest picture book artists, Hans Christian Andersen Award-winner Anthony Browne.

Sam & Dave dig a hole

 Other Title: Sam and Dave dig a hole
Summary: Sam and Dave are on a mission. A mission to find something spectacular. So they dig a hole. And they keep digging. And they find - nothing. Yet the day turns out to be pretty spectacular after all.  Attentive readers will be rewarded with a rare treasure in this witty story of looking for the extraordinary - and finding it in a manner you'd never expect. It offers a humorous look at the pleasures of outdoor play and its often surprising rewards

This Year's Garden

1st Aladdin Paperbacks ed
Summary: Follows the seasons of the year as reflected in the growth, life, and death of the garden of a large rural family

Hello world

New Zealand author
Summary: Mr. and Mrs. Mo are busy painting the house, and the monster is bored ... until he gets a grand idea: he's off to see the world! But his adventure becomes bigger than he expected, and the monster wishes Mrs. Mo had come after all - with some sandwiches. (Publisher)

The remarkable cake shop

New Zealand author; New Zealand illustrator
Summary: Follow the hilarious antics of the Mayor as he learns a lesson in humility. Funny, engaging and entertaining it is filled with wonderful characters and delicious cake. (Publisher)

The king and the sea

Summary: Twenty-one short stories simple but  profound tales that will reverberate in the readers mind long after the book is put down. 'Buzz off,' said the king, shooing the bee from his flower. 'Dont you know Im the king?' 'And I'm the queen,' said the bee, stinging the kings nose. In each story, the king has an encounter which he tries to rule over. But of course the rain doesnt stop just because a king orders it, and tired eyelids can be much stronger than a king's will. These encounters show the king that his power has limits; the world is diverse and much of it operates under its own rules

Alice in Wonderland

Pbk. ed
Based on the original story by Lewis Carroll
"Best-loved classics"--Cover
Summary: When Alice follows a white rabbit down a hole she finds herself in the extraordinary world of Wonderland, where a magical adventure begins

The little gardener

First edition
Summary: There was once a little gardener and his garden meant everything to him. He worked hard, very hard, but he was just too little (or at least he felt he was). (From back cover)

Finding Winnie : the true story of the world's most famous bear

Other Title: Winnie
 Other Title: True story of the world's most famous bear
First edition
In story format. Includes factual material
Summary: A woman tells her young son the true story of how his great-great-grandfather, Captain Harry Colebourn, rescued and learned to love a bear cub in 1914 as he was on his way to take care of soldiers' horses during World War I, and the bear became the inspiration for A.A. Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh

The night world

First edition
Summary: Sylvie the cat persuades her boy to go into the darkness very late at night, where they are greeted by the shadows of roses and other flowers, and by nocturnal animals who whisper, 'it's almost here

Whose beak is this

Summary: Whose beak is this? lets children guess the identity of iconic New Zealand birds from the pictures of their beaks, while finding out some facts about the birds along the way. This fun approach introduces an important science concept about adaptation - birds' beaks are a very obvious adaptation to the kind of food they eat. Being encouraged to look closely at the pictures teaches observation skills and helps children realise how diverse bird species are. (Publisher)

Hoot Owl, master of disguise

Summary: Hoot Owl is no ordinary owl - oh no! - he's a master of disguise! And he will use his formidable camouflage powers to trick his unsuspecting prey into succumbing to him! Hoot Owl's prey keeps escaping...Hmmm, perhaps he isn't quite as masterful as he believes. (From publisher)

When dad showed me the universe

Summary: Tonight Dad wants to show his son something very special: the universe. Of course, they can't possibly embark on such a daring adventure unprepared, so they wrap up warm, gather provisions, and then off they go. It's a long walk, but eventually they get there. Along the way, they learn that sometimes the journey is more important than the destination, and sometimes the biggest lessons happen when you least expect them

Mister Spears and his hairy ears

New Zealand author; New Zealand illustrator
Summary: Mister Spears' hairy ears are a cause for concern! What can he do to bring the hair under control

J. M. Barrie's Peter Pan

 Other Title: Peter Pan
Originally published as: J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan and Wendy. 1998
Summary: All children grow up, all except one. The magical story of Peter Pan, the boy who never grew up, has captivated generations of children. Rose Impey's sensitive adaptation of the story makes it accessible to younger children, while retaining the spirit of the original J. M. Barrie text
J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan and Wendy